Host cablingThis chapter provides examples of cabling topologies between one or more hosts and a controllershelf or controller-drive tray. Direct-attach topologies, fabric topologies, and mixed topologies areaddressed.You have several options for cabling between one or more hosts and a controller shelf or controller-drive tray. Options include direct-attach topologies, fabric topologies, and mixed topologies. Theexamples provided in this chapter show basic concepts to help you define an optimal host-cablingtopology. You are not limited to using only these topologies. A table that lists the maximumsupported number of hosts is included.For host port locations on the specific controller shelf or controller-drive tray model that you areinstalling, seeComponent locations on page 21.Note: If you are using the Synchronous Mirroring feature or the Asynchronous Mirroring feature,seeHardware installation for Synchronous Mirroring and Asynchronous Mirroring on page 135for information on cabling for these features.Host interface connectionsThe E5600 controller-drive trays (E5612, E5624, and E5660) and the EF560 flash array connect tohosts through one HIC on each controller. The E5500 controller-drive trays (E5512, E5524, andE5560) and the EF550 flash array connect to hosts through one HIC on each controller.Each controller in an E5400 controller-drive tray (E5412, E5424, and E5460) or an EF540 flash arrayhas built-in (base) Fibre Channel ports, and might also have an optional HIC installed.Each controller in an E2800 controller shelf (E2812, E2824, or E2860) has one of the followingoptions for built-in (base) ports:• Dual RJ-45 ports for 1-Gb/s or 10-Gb/s iSCSI connection• Dual SFP ports that can be configured for 1-Gb/s or 10-Gb/s iSCSI connections or for 4-Gb/s, 8-Gb/s or 16-Gb/s Fibre Channel connectionsEach controller in and E2800 might also have an optional HIC installed.Each controller in an E2700 controller-drive tray (E2712, E2724, or E2760) has built-in (base) SASconnectors for host connections and might also have an optional HIC installed. Each controller in anE2600 controller-drive tray (E2612, E2624, or E2660) has built-in (base) SAS connectors for hostconnections and might also have an optional HIC installed.The following table shows host cabling configurations for the E5500 and E5600 controller-drive traysand the EF550 and EF560 flash arrays.58
